Apparatus for the liquid treatment of packages of yarn



y 1951 H. o. NAUMANN 2,553,106

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF PACKAGES OF YARN Filed July 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Herbe;t.oswalel Naumann MN; HTTORNEYS May 15, 1951 H. o. NAUMANN 2,553,106

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF PACKAGES OF YARN Filed July 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "www- I INVENTOR. Herbert 9swmhl Nouumamn ATTORNEYS May 15, 1951 H. o. NAUMANN 2,553,106

APPARATUS FDR THE LIQUID TREATMENT 0F PACKAGES 0F YARN Filed July 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Hey b rt Oswald Nmumahn BY HTTo aways y 1951 H. o. NAUMANN I 2,553,106

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF PACKAGES OF YARN Filed July 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

New

QTTQRNEYS Herbert OsQmkcL Nwqman n Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES QPAT ENT OFFICE 7 APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF PACKAGES OF YARN Application July 26, 1946, Serial N0. 686,333

Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for the liquid treatment of porous packages and it relates more particularly to an improved apparatus for liquid treating and Washing tubular cakes of rayon or other threadlike material.

"In the manufacture of rayon and other artificial filaments the filament is initially spun and then wound into tubular cakes or packages, the cakes or packages thereafter being subjected to numerous liquid-treating and washing stages. For example, in the manufacture of viscose rayon, these cakes are subjected to the sequential steps of washing, desulphurizing, further washing, bleaching, washing, removing traces of bleaching agent by means of acid treatment, washing, finishing, sizing and dyeing. Thus it is obvious that the aftertreatment of viscose rayon involves a large number of liquid treating steps.

In one 'of the methods presently employed in the liquid treatment of cakes of artificial filament, the treating liquid or wash water is introduced under pressure into the interior of the cake, the open ends of the cake being suitably sealed. The treating liquid is forced through the walls of the cakes by the pressure exerted by the liquid. Generally, several tubular cakes are stacked end to end, one end of the stack of cakes being sealed and the treating liquid under pressure being forced into the interior of the cakes through the other end. The treating liquid seeps through the cakes thus effecting the liquid treatment thereof. Inasmuch as the individual cakes are subject to swelling or expansion during some of the liquid treatments and to contraction during other of the liquid treatments, it is obvious that if no arrangement is provided, which will allow or compensate for such expansions and contractions there will be a distortion of the cakes and a separation of the cakes permitting the free flow of the liquid between the cakes rather than through them.

It is obvious that any distortion of the cakes might result in the poor and ineffective treatment thereof. Numerous arrangements have heretofore been proposed to permit free expansion and contraction of a stack of cakes but these proposed arrangements have either proved ineffective or too complicated to be put into practical operation.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide "an 'improv'ed apparatus for 2 the liquid treatment of cakes and packages of thread.

Another object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for the treatment of tubular cakes of artificial filament.

Still another object of the present invention to .provide an improved apparatus for liquid treating and washing tubular cakes of artificial filament whereby allowance is made for the contraction and expansion of the several cakes during the numerous liquid treatments thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for the liquid treatment of tubular cakes of artificial filament whereby the cakes of artificial filament are subiect to a minimum of longitudinal stress.

The present invention broadly contemplates the provision of a seal at the end of a tubular cake the provision of a fluid-tight connection between the confronting faces of a pair of adjacent cakes disposed end to end which seal or connection is responsive to the pressure of the treating liquid to eifect the hermetic sealing or fluid tight coupling of the cakes.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the tubular cakes of artificial filament are vertically stacked and the individual cakes are supported by corresponding shelves, the cakes being in liquid communica tion with each other by way of apertures formed in each of the shelves. The shelves are vertically separated from each other distances greater than the height of the individual cakes and are provided with self-sealing gaskets as will be hereinafter described. These gaskets co-operate with the upper faces of the corresponding cakes and are forced into fluid type relationship with such upper face by means of the treating liquid introduced under pressure into the interior of the cake.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention a tubular perforated supporting member has mounted thereon, a series of removable plates between which plates may be positioned tubular cakes of artificial filament. Further, each of these plates is provided on its lower face with a pressure responsive selfsealing gasket whereby upon the introduction of liquid under pressure into the interior of the cakes by way of the perforated tubular member, these gaskets effect a liquid type connection between the vertically adjacent cakes.

t should be noted that inasmuch as the shelves or cake supporting plates are spaced at distances greater than the height of the supported cakes and inasmuch as the self-sealing gaskets are formed of a resilient material each of the cakes is permitted to expand and contract with great ease without distortion to the cakes or without breaking the hydraulic seal between the respective cakes or between the top cake and the sealing member therefor. It is thus obvious that the present invention provides an improved simple apparatus and method for washing and liquid treating cakes of artificial filaments without unduly stressing or distorting the cakes.

Additional features of the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the specification in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 of the front detailed view of an apparatus embodying the a front elevational view thereof and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view both partially broken away; Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of another form of the apparatus embodying the present invention, said view being partially broken away; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a self-sealing gasket in accordance with the present invention; Figs. 6-9 are detailed views partially broken away, illustrating the operation of the self-sealing gasket.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1-3 thereof, a carriage or truck I I is provided with'flanged wheels I2 whereby the truck II and the supported equipment may be easily transported to successive treating stations. The truck I I suitably supports a pair of oppositely disposed base or bottom plates I3, the bottom plates I3 having formed therein'a plurality of regularly arranged apertures I4. Mounted below the bottom plate I3 is the liquid distributing chamber I6. The liquid distributing chambers 'IB are suitably secured to the plates l3 by means of bolts IT and are hermetically sealed to plates I3 by means of suitable gaskets IS. The chamber I6 may be connected to a suitable source of treating fluid by way 'of the Y-connection I9 which is provided with a flanged end to facilitate its connection to a suitable fluid reservoir or conduit.

The truck II also has mounted thereon, a pair of oppositely disposed uprights 20, which uprights are'pr'ovided with a series of vertically separated and aligned bearings 2I. The bearings 2| have rotatedl y mounted therein a series of spaced shafts 22; each of the shafts 22 rigidly mounting a swingable cake supporting shelf 23-. Upper shafts 22 rigidly support a swing-able top sealing shelf 24. Further, the shafts '22 have rigidly secured thereto, levers 26, the levers 26 forming an obtuse angle with the shelves 223 and the top member 24. Moreover, the weight of the shelves and the top member 23 and 24 are biased 0r counterbalanced by means of heavy tension springs 21 having their ends adjustably connected to the depending plates 28 by way of the adjustable eye- 'bolts 29. The other ends of the tension springs 21 are connected by way of pulleys 39 and cables 32 to the free ends of the levers 26. springs 21 and the angle between the lever 26 and the shelves 23 and the top 24 are so adjusted that the shelves will remain in biased open and closed position and require a minimum of effort to shift the shelves from the one to the other position; Suitable housings 33 and 33A enclose the counterbalancing mechanism in order to reduce the corrosive action of the treating fluid on such mechanism.

present invention, a said view being partially broken away; Fig. 2 is The tension Considering now the cake supporting shelves 23 and the top member 24, each of the shelves are provided with a series of apertures 34 which are in vertical alignment with apertures I4 formed in the bottom plate I3 when the shelves are in closed position. Further, each of the shelves 23 and the top member 24 are provided with fluid pressure responsive self-sealing gaskets 36, the gaskets being of annular shape as will be hereinafter described. The gaskets 36 are positioned on each of the shelves 23 and on the top member 24 in coaxial arrangement with respect to the apertures 34 and I4. Moreover, the gaskets 36 are mounted on the shelves 23 and on the top member 24 by means of a collar 31 provided with'an inwardly extended flange which flange is engaged by suitable securing means such as rivets 38. In addition to supporting the gas- 7 kets 35, the rivets 38 secure suitable locating rings 39 to the upper faces of the shelves 23. Locating rings 39 are also positioned on the bottom plate I3.

The bottom plate I 3 and the shelves 23 are provided with upstanding borders 49 along three edges thereof and with depending lips 4| along their inner edges. The shelves 23 and the top member 22 are also provided with depending spacer bars d2 positioned at the outer end of the shelves 23 and the top members 26. The spacer bars 42 are of such length that in co-operation with the shafts 22 they support the shelves 23 and the top members '24 in horizontally parallel position. Further, locking rods 43 pivotally connected to the bottom wall I3 terminate in G- shaped clamps 44 which C-shaped clamps are provided with wing bolts 46. Bars 36A extending from the top members 24 co-operate with the clamps 44 whereby the entire apparatus may be locked into operative position.

A trough 41 is positioned between the vertical stacks of shelves. 23 and lies in thepath of the lipsAI Thus the treating liquid which is forced through the treated cakes is allowed to flow into this trough and is from thereconducted either to a waste conduit or to any other desired treating apparatus. .Further, liquid bafiie members 48 are suitablymounted in the chambers I6 directly in the paths ofthe liquid inlets to the chambers I8 inorder to evenly distribute pressure of the treating liquid.

Considering nowthe operation and manipulation of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 -3, the top member 24 and the shelves 23 are swung into open and substantially vertical position. Porous cakes 49 of rayon or any other material which is to be treated are positioned on the bottom plate I3 within the locating rings 39 and the next upper shelf 23 swung to closed horizontal position. This operation is repeated until all the shelves 23 are loaded with the cakes 49 and the upper member 24 is then swung into closed horizontal position and the entire apparatus is locked by means of the C clamps 44 and the bars 46A. The carriage or truck II is then transported to a fluid treatment station and the bottom flange of the Y-connector I9 is suitably connected to a conduit which in turn is connected to a treating liquid under pressure. Liquid under pressure is allowed to flow through the Y-connection I9 and the distributing chambers I6 into the interior of the cakes'49. The treating liquid effects a fluid type sealing between the upper ends of the cakes and the lower faces of the gaskets 36 as will be hereinafter described in greater detail. The treating liquid is forced through the porous cakes aster-be 5. 49 effecting the treatment thereof, the liquid thereafter flowing :along the shelves 23 and the bottom .plate 13 exterior :to the cakes 49 "to the depending lips 45! and into the :return trough 41. After the cakes have been treated with the treating liquid for the desirable length :of time, the "treating liquid :is turned 'off and the excess liquid allowed to flow from the apparatus. The Y-connection I9 :is then (disconnected from the treating liquid conduit. This operation is continued :until the complete aftertreatment of "-the cakes iscompleted.

'In 'Fig. 4 of the drawings there is illustrated another form of equipment embodying the present invention wherein the cakes 49- are supported on tubular conduits which conduct the treating fluid to the supported cakes. More particularly, a stepped conduit which has the apertures 5'! formed 'in the wall thereof is supported on the bottom plate I3 by means of a coupling member '52. The coupling member 52 provides a fluid communication between the interior of the perforated conduit '50 and the fluid distributing chamber :Hi.

The conduit 50 is formed of :a series f vti erforated tubular members 53, the tubular members 53 being :of successively smaller diameter. The upper ends of the tubular members .53 are provided with inwardly extending flanges 54 which flanges overlay sleeve members .55. The sleeve members .55 are suitably and rigidly fixed to :the corresponding inner walls of the tubular members 53. .Moreover, the sleeve members :54 are also rigidly secured to the lower outer walls of the follow-ing upper tubular members 5:3 thereby providing the single rigid stepped tubular .conduit 50. The upper end of :the topmost tubular member 53 is capped with the member '55 which forms the male portionof a bayonet joint.

There is supported on eachof the ledges formed by the flanges 54 a removable cake supporting shelf 51, the shelves 5! being of circular horizontal cross-section and having circular apertures 58 formed therein of successively smaller diameter, the edges of the apertures 58 being provided with upstanding flanges 59. Further, the shelves 5'! have channel shape peripheries 65 which engage the outer portions of the selfsealing gaskets 36. In order to securely lock the gaskets 56 in position there are provided locking rings 6| of angular cross-section which rings 5| co-operate with the channel shape peripheries 59 to suitably support the gaskets 36. The coupling member 52 is provided with an outwardly extending ledge 63, the ledge 63 suitably supporting by means of fasteners 64, a disc shaped shelf 65. A top member 66 of substantially the same shape as the shelves 51, similarly supports a gasket 36. The top member 56 is provided with the hollow cap portion 67, having inwardly projecting lugs 68 to form the female portion 55. The shelf 66 is rigidly fixed to the cap portion 61.

Considering now the operation of the equipment illustrated in Fig. 4, the upper member 55 and the shelves 5'! are removed from the supporting conduit 50. A cake is positioned on the lower shelf 65 coaxial with the conduit 59 and a shelf 51 is superimposed on the cake 49, the shelf 51 having an aperture of slightly smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the corresponding ledge 54 which supports the shelf 5?. Cakes 49 and shelves 5! are successively positioned on the conduit 59 until the conduit is fully loaded and the top sealing plant 66 is then placed 6 on the send :or the conduit and suitabiy .locked vin position by :of the bayonet jointincluding "the members (i6 and :Ga'l. The cakes are then treated :in the manner described :in connection with :the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring .now :to Figs.--.5- 9 :of .the drawing, the fluid pressure responsive iself-Jsealing gasket 36 is preferably formed of :rubber .or -=other suitably resilient material. The gasket -36 is :formed of an annular supporting :portion :10 having an inwardly and :downwardly extending connecting portion -H. Projecting inwardly from the connecting portion .11 .is :a relatively flexible flange portion :12 which :forms a :small angle with the horizontal. The flange portion :12 terminates in a tapered edge 1-3. Projecting upwardlyzfrom athe flange portion 12 and'extending :from the tapered edge thereof to the-connectingportion H are the radially disposed rib: T4 regularly arrangedzal'ong the-flange 12.

When the cakes 4-9 and the gasket supporting shelves are locked in position and prior to the introduction -of .a treating fluid the :gasket should preferably assume -a shape as illustrated in Fig. -9 of the drawings. Upon introduction of a treating fluid under pressure into the interior of the cakes such fluid will enter the :space between the upper face of theflange 12 {of the gasketSfi and the confronting lower face :of the supporting shelf. Inasmuch :as there is 'a :pressure gradient through the porouscakes 4 9, the pressures on the bottom faces of the flanges '12 :are less than the pressures in the corresponding upper faces --of these flanges thus resulting in the flanges 12 being urged into fluid tight contactwith the confronting :upper faces of the cakes 49. It :is apparent that any changes in the longitudinal dimensions of the cakes 49 are taken up :by the gaskets .36 with ivery .iittlexstress on the cakes 49. Thus in Fig. '7 there is illustrated a cake 49 in greatly expanded position. It should be here noted that the radial flanges 14 are provided in order to prevent the upper faces of the flanges 12 from coming into contact with the lower faces of the supporting shelves so that the treating fluid at all times has access to the space between flange 12 and the supporting shelf. Thus the flanges 12 will not be locked into upper position where they might not follow the subsequently contracting cake.

Prior to the introduction of the treating fluid, the gaskets 36 may assume the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings or may assume the position where the flanges do not come in contact with the confronting end face of the cake 49. It has been found that upon the introduction of the treating fluid under pressure, even when the flanges 12 assume the latter position, a fluid tight seal is immediately effected between the cakes 49 and gaskets 36.

The method and apparatus herein described are the best embodiments of the present invention now known, but it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily or specifically limited thereto, in all cases, but, under suitable conditions may be carried out in other ways without departure from its spirit and within the proper scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of unmounted tubular packages of yarn comprising a plurality of package supporting platforms having apertures formed therein, means independent of said packages of yarn for horizontally supporting said platforms in' vertically spaced positions, whereby said apertures are in substantial alignment and flexible annular gaskets secured along their outer peripheries to the lower faces of said platforms, and being substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said apertures, the inner edges of said gaskets being spaced from the lower faces of said platforms. 2. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of tubular packages of yarn comprising a plurality of vertically spaced hinged platforms having apertures formed therein, which apertures are in substantial vertical alignment when said platforms are in horizontal position, and flexible annular gaskets arranged coaxially with respect to said apertures, and having their outer peripheries supported in fluid tight relationship with said platforms and their inner peripheries spaced from the planes of their respective supporting platforms. 7

3. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of tubular packages of yarn comprising a plurality of vertically spaced hinged platforms having apertures formed therein, which apertures are in substantial Vertical alignment when said platforms are in horizontal position, and flexible annular gaskets of concavo-convex shape arranged coaxially with respect to said apertures and having their outer peripheries supported in fluid type relationship with said platforms and their inner peripheries spaced from the planes of their respective supporting platforms.

4. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of tubular packages of yarn comprising a plurality of vertically spaced hinged platforms having apertures formed therein, which apertures are in substantial vertical alignment when said platforms are in horizontal position, and flexible annular gaskets of concavo convex shape having upstanding radial ribs formed on the concave The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,229 Kraft Jan. 5, 1937 Re. 20,284 Herrmann Mar. 9, 1937 1,789,745 Hebden Jan. 20, 1931 1,830,293 Rulon Nov. 3, 1931 1,859,037 Huttinger May 17, 1932 1,943,072 I-Ierrmann Jan. 9, 1934 1,957,328 Engel May 1, 1934 2,007,914 Elling July 9, 1935 2,092,124 Laird Sept. 7, 1937 2,313,473 Heacock Mar. 9, 1943 2,327,293 Twyman Aug. 17, 1943 2,350,191 Raymond May 30, 1944 face thereof, arranged coaxially with respect to said apertures and having their outer peripheries supported in fluid type relationship Withsaid platforms and their inner peripheries spaced from the planes of their respective supporting platforms.

5. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of unmounted tubular packages of yarn comprising a plurality of package supporting platforms having apertures formed therein, means independent of said packages of yarn for horizontally supporting said platforms in vertically spaced positions, whereby said apertures are in substantial alignment and flexible annular gaskets of concavo-convex shape secured along their outer peripheries to the lower faces of said platforms, and being substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said apertures, the inner edges of said gaskets being spaced from the lower faces of said platforms.

HERBERT OSWALD NAUMANN.

REFERENCES CITED 

